3D printing pen lets you build your own sculptures in thin air

The 3Doodler pen lets users draw in air. It raised over $200,000 in one day on Kickstarter.

WobbleWorks has created a real life “Harold and the Purple Crayon.” The 3D printing pen allows users to build their own creations from the ground up. The pen, called 3Doodler, is a 3D printer/hot glue gun hybrid that heats up and distributes a thin string of plastic that then quickly cools to build your creation.

The idea is pretty darn cool, but the best part about the 3Doodler is its price—expected to be commercially available for $75 a piece, the Kickstarter early birds were able to pick up the pen for only $50. This is a far cry from the $1,749 and up Makerbots that have defined 3D printing so far. You can still currently sign up for the $75 3Doodler printer package that comes with two bags of mixed color plastic via Kickstarter.

The 3Doodler’s Kickstarter was launched today and at the time of this post has raised more $200,000—going far beyond its original goal of $30,000.

Admittedly, the 3Doodler does not have the precision and programmability that makes 3D printing so alluring for many people but it means that the techie’s dream is finally here: an affordable 3D printer that fits in your pocket.